Why does my organic milk have a much later expiration?

[NewJeffCT]

I bought some organic milk a few weeks back because it was on sale, but because the carton is different, I forgot about it. I found it this morning and noticed that the expiration is not until June 2nd. I smelled the milk and it seems fine. I had breakfast maybe 90 minutes ago and am not retching in pain yet or anything....

Why does this organic milk last so long, but the non-organic milk I buy only seems to last 7-10 days?

edited to add: My point being - if I went to the store today to buy milk, I would have a choice between organic milk that expires in mid June, or regular NON organic milk that expires in mid May. It just seemed odd to me.

[Neoma]

1. Huh.

I try to throw away everything that is out of date. :scared:

[NewJeffCT]

4. My point was...

That if I went to my local grocery store today, I could buy NON organic milk with an expiration date of mid May. If I bought organic milk, the expiration date would be mid June! The organic milk I had bought 2 weeks ago doesn't have an expiration until June 2nd. I thought adding the chemicals & the like would make it last longer, but it seems to not be the case.

[Neoma]

5. Weird!

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. Non organic milk will usually last a week or so longer than the date

says. I never throw it out on the expiration date. If it's kept cold, it will stay fresh for quite some time.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

3. Depends on the type of pasturization.

Some milk is pasturized and some milk is ultra-pasturized. Ultra-pasturized comes with a super long expiration date, although some argue that it has less nutritional value. It should tell you the pasturization method on the carton somewhere. I used to always order the ultra-pasturized when I was buying for a store. Most customers have no clue there's a difference, they cost the same amount (wholesale & retail) plus I was less likely to end up with past-date product to dump.

[NewJeffCT]

12. Thanks

That helps a lot. I will check to see if it is ultra-pasteurized when I get home, but I suspect that it is.

[Deja Q]

6. Milk with synthetic hormones typically goes sour before its exp date.

That must be the difference. Phony hormones.

[NewJeffCT]

7. sounds logical

thanks.

[progmom]

8. i have noticed that the organic milk tends to be ultra-pasteurized

Which extends its shelf life (and gives it a yucky taste, if you ask me :( )

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

10. Check out my above post on ultra-pasturization. nt

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. Because of all the preservatives and chemicals they put in organic milk

to keep it from going bad so fast.

[JuniperLea]

16. But, then it wouldn't be organic... n/t

[crispini]

11. You're right. I've also noticed that conventional milk goes bad...

MUCH more quickly than organic milk does. I had some conventional the other day that went bad before I'd even finished half the carton -- and it was NOT even past its sell-by date! :puke:

[I Have A Dream]

13. Are you sure that it's not soy milk? (Probably not because...

you'd probably be able to taste the difference.) That's the only thing that I can think of for an explanation besides maybe its being pasteurized in some way that makes it last longer. (Or irradiated :(.)

[NewJeffCT]

17. yes, I'm sure

Haruka's explanation above seems correct.

[philosophie_en_rose]

14. Maybe it hits the stores later?

Processed milk probably has farther to go than organic. :shrug:
Maybe it gets to the store closer to the expiration date.

[Runcible Spoon]

18. I think that's right on target...

organic milk comes from smaller suppliers who (to a greater degree) direct-supply, rather than ship it off to mega gargantuan centers and blend it with the milk from all over, then have to package and distribute it all over again...

[JuniperLea]

15. Less puss?

EW! Gagged myself!

I started drinking organic when I hear about the puss... and the antibiotics, not to mention the pesticides, hormones and all the other junk that gets into regular milk.